USC NOTEBOOK: TROJANS AGREE TO SERIES VS. VIRGINIA : POLAMALU DID WELL IN HAWAII.

Byline: Scott Wolf Staff Writer

USC has reached a tentative agreement with Virginia to play a home-and-home series in the 2001 and 2002 seasons. The Trojans would host Virginia on Sept. 1, 2001, at the Coliseum, then play the Cavaliers in Charlottesville on Sept. 7, 2002.

Virginia will sign the contract as soon as it receives assurances that the 2001 game will be played at or before 1 p.m. in Los Angeles. The Cavaliers have a road game the following week and do not want to get back to Virginia so late that they would need to take Sunday off.

USC hopes the game will be regionally televised by ABC, which would mean a 12:30 p.m. kickoff.

Small body, big hitter: Perhaps the most unheralded debut against Hawaii came from freshman Troy Polamalu, who had four tackles, including a sack and forced fumble.

Polamalu moved to linebacker less than two weeks ago and wasn't sure if he would make the adjustment.

``I'm really small,'' Polamalu said. ``Butting heads with those big, old linemen, the comparison is obvious. I was really nervous.''

Once he got on the field, however, Polamalu showed that he has a knack for making plays.

``It felt really good to get out there. But it's hard to back somebody up as good as Markus Steele,'' he said. ``I've moved all over the defense, but I'm trying to help the team.''

Polamalu made one other adjustment in the Hawaii game. After never playing before more than 500 fans in his hometown of Roseburg, Ore., he performed in front of 50,000 at Aloha Stadium.

``To go in front of 50,000 is unthinkable,'' he said. ``I never could have imagined how good it felt to be running out in front of all those people.''

Ford tough: Former tight end Lonnie Ford had one of the defense's best performances against Hawaii in his first game at defensive end.

``The amazing thing is he hasn't played defensive line in two years,'' USC coach Paul Hackett said. ``He knew he was a natural there. I believe Lonnie's going to be a force.''

Ford, who had two sacks, three tackles and a forced fumble, said Hawaii concentrated more on linemen Ennis Davis and Sultan Abdul-Malik.

``I was real surprised how I played,'' Ford said. ``I thought they would take advantage of me because I'm a new person. I think I just showed people what I could do.''

Ford is starting ahead of sophomore Kori Dickerson, and when suspended lineman Shamsud-Din Abdul-Shaheed returns to action, he'll play the opposite side behind Matt Childers.

Sick bay: R. Jay Soward missed his second straight day of practice with what has been termed ``food poisoning.''

The Trojans have also been hit by the flu, with linemen Eric Denmon and Nate Steinbacher also out.

``If we had a game, it would be a real problem,'' Hackett said.

Rideaux might return: Hackett said that cornerback Darrell Rideaux might practice Sunday. Rideaux remains out with a back injury.

Oregon time: USC's game with Oregon on Sept. 25 is expected to have a 7 p.m. kickoff.

Medical center visit: The football team will visit patients at USC University Hospital, USC/Norris Cancer Center and Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center on Friday. There will also be a public rally in the main quad at noon featuring the team, band and song leaders.